OEEC: Saitec’s disruptive approach to offshore wind turbines

With just a few days to go before the annual Offshore Energy Exhibition and Conference kicks off with a bang – or rather with a gala dinner – we are now presenting you Saitec Offshore, one of 11 companies to present at the event’s brand new start-up zone.

Saitec Offshore, a spin-off from SAITEC Engineering, is a Spanish engineering company working on a development of a cost-effective floating wind farm solution SATH (Swinging Around Twin Hull).

Offshore Energy Today spoke with David Carrascosa, the Chief Technology Officer, to learn more on what Saitec Offshore is all about.

Apart from the conventional renewable energy companies, Saitec also sees opportunity in the fact that big players in the offshore energy market are now focusing in offshore wind to diversify their portfolio and even changing completely their activity from oil & gas to purely marine renewables – take Dong Energy for example.

The Danish company has recently completed the exit from the oil and gas industry to focus on offshore wind, and has even changed its name to make sure it’s no longer associated with the oil and gas industry.

Unique feature

Energy Research Center of the Netherlands has recently taken a closer look into Saitec’s floating turbine concept. Here’s what they said:

“Perhaps the most unique feature of SAITEC’s solution is the single point mooring. Two twin concrete hulls are fastened to a single mooring point with a bearing. It allows the platform to swing around this point,” ECN found.

ECN calculated that connecting to one single point shortens the installation time and makes it easier and cheaper to bring back the turbine to harbour for replacement of large components.

“Another cost and time reduction lies in the fact that all platform and turbine equipment is assembled at the harbour. This reduces offshore operations to a minimum. Also, the use of concrete instead of steel has positive impact on the maintenance costs because effects such as corrosion will not occur,” ECN said.

Cost competitive

During the upcoming Offshore Energy Exhibition and Conference, Saitec Offshore will be aiming to attract both big players and newcomers to the field.

The company’s CTO says everyone will be welcomed to the company’s stand and “we are open to all kind of collaboration opportunities with any company involved or willing to be involved in the offshore wind adventure.”

“We want people to get convinced about the fact that Floating Offshore Wind is not a costly solution to be implemented in the long term but a cost-competitive and risk-reducer technology for the near future,” Carrascosa ended.

OEEC is one of Europe’s leading offshore energy events. It is unique in bringing together the oil & gas, offshore wind and marine energy industry. With the industry in transition, OEEC offers offshore energy professionals the ideal meeting place to network, discuss and learn about the future of energy. OEEC 2017 will be held at Amsterdam RAI on October 9, 10, 11, 2017.